Western PA newb

Hello,
I am John from Western PA. I am a Mechanical Engineer and as my screenname suggests, I am into sportbikes. Not your typical machines though, as I build and drag race a 484 rear wheel horsepower turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa :)

I currently do not own a Tig welder, however I do use welders from some other shops that allow me to do work. I am short on time these days and the shops are quite a drive to get to , so I am looking to give myself a slightly belated birthday present and get my own tig to have in the garage so that I don't have to be away for so long to fab a few parts or make a repair or two when needed.

I have a fair amount of welding knowledge from designing and working through manufacture of a variety of items from small brackets to large robotic ground combat vehicle prototypes made form 3" thick 5456 welded Aluminum and welded titanium suspension components.

I have been researching the Everlast brand, through quite a bit of internet research, as well as sitting with our machine / welding shop manager for about an hour this afternoon looking through the specs and videos relating to Everlast welders (tig adn combo units)

Should I decide to purchase an everlast unit, I will likely bring it into our shop to do a fair amount of testing with amp clamps, while welding to compare to some of the other welders we currently have (mostly Miller products, from a few different syncrowave's an aerowave, quite a few large industrial power supplies from Lincoln (mostly used for gmaw and sub-arc). We even have a plasma welder, but I likely will not be comparing anything to that.

I am sure I will have questions relating to specs of specific welders as I continue my research and I will post in the relevant forums as appropriate (sometimes I think maybe I need t just take off my Engineer hat and make a decision on a whim rather than research and test things to death...)

I look forward to getting a tig unit and completing some changes on my race bike to dip into the 7 second range at 185+ mph in the quarter mile, all on a DOT approved tire and no wheelie bar :-)

John

Glad to have you John!,
It'll be great to have an engineer type in the mix. I'd be interested in any details, comparisons and conclusions drawn in your research as would many others. Oh, and bike photos are a must!
Best, Z

Welcome John,

M.E. types are always good to have, someone need to destroy the C.E. guys work. I know, old joke.

I can assure you that in tech support I personally get a number of guys that use a blue boxes (some red) all day at the day job. They buy our TIG and like it more. They call in all the time with basically this (short version). Needed a TIG for side jobs, could not afford big box, bought your unit and can not believe how well it compares (they generally say our welds better, but they might be biased as they are talking to us).

Call in if you need help in a choice of units. The DX, LX and EX are really great choices depending on features and amps you need.

Thanks guys. I hope to be able to provide some input and tech support as much as possible.

If I get my hands on an Everlast, I am not going ot be afraid of amp clamps, stopwatches and oscilloscopes to see what she'll do either. :-)

John

Here's one, getting ready to make a pass. Looks a little distorted though??

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...der/Bike_1.jpg

Some action shots leaving the line. The rear tail was kind of thrown on for last year. This year, a new cut down tank, modified frame rails, and different tail are in process. The tail and tank mounts are what I need to weld next (chromoly tube). It will all be painted as well.

8.004 @ 183 mph I believe was my best pass last year in the 1/4 mile.

145 mph at the 1/8th mile mark.

~484 rear wheel HP at 30 psi boost from a 1.3L engine....Hang On!


http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...der/bike_4.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...der/Bike_3.jpg

These are come updated photos with some modifications....

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._5497545_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3853676_n.jpg

I kind of like this one. Thanks to Doug Ray of Dragbikelive.com for taking the photos at the track.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6106429_n.jpg

One question I have is: Do you ever take that beast for a rip down the street? I think it would be a cool sight to see. I have grown a new appreciation for all things 2 wheeled these days. Gone is the attitude that the only bikes that are "cool" are of the American v-twin type, and I've noticed that shift in attitude among many of my contemporaries. I guess as an old Harley-type, I'm a little behind the times as far as what's "hot" on the street these days, but I have noticed a trend lately for the crotch rockets to have the same look as this drag bike on the street. With the long, extended swingarm, (I've seen a couple of bikes with the extensions literally as long as you have pictured here, being used on the STREET), And thought to myself "gee, that ain't gonna help in the corners". Well, now it all makes sense. You could probably make a living selling extension kits to the guys riding these. In fact, when time allows, I may look into the same thing myself. As far as 484 hp, out of 1.3 liters, that's amazing, even for a few seconds at a time. The forces at work inside an engine like that defy the laws of physics, and send chills up my spine! To put your 1.3 liters defined as slightly over 80 cubic inches into perspective, a Harley engine (I work mostly on the shovelheads 1966-1984) is 80 cubic inches, and puts out 40-50 horsepower at the rear wheel in stock trim. I have had customers walk away thinking I'm a miracle worker because I'm setting them up to pull 90 horsepower and 90 ft/lb torque (rear wheel) by upping the displacement to 93 cubic inches, porting, upping compression, It's a major undertaking to say the least, and you're pulling almost 5-1/2 Times that! Great job. If you get time, I'd like to see some more detailed pics of the frame. and any welding/fabrication that you may have done to it. Thanks!

I wondered about the street tire requirement. I thought maybe it was an equalizer that would force competitors to concentrate on engine wizardry, rather than using every little technique (like slick tires) to squeeze every last fractional mph out of the bike, or maybe a reality check to be able to say 'yes you really could ride this bike home'. Probably way off base, but there does seem to be a lot of engine wizardry in play!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hooda

One question I have is: Do you ever take that beast for a rip down the street? I think it would be a cool sight to see. I have grown a new appreciation for all things 2 wheeled these days. Gone is the attitude that the only bikes that are "cool" are of the American v-twin type, and I've noticed that shift in attitude among many of my contemporaries. I guess as an old Harley-type, I'm a little behind the times as far as what's "hot" on the street these days, but I have noticed a trend lately for the crotch rockets to have the same look as this drag bike on the street. With the long, extended swingarm, (I've seen a couple of bikes with the extensions literally as long as you have pictured here, being used on the STREET), And thought to myself "gee, that ain't gonna help in the corners". Well, now it all makes sense. You could probably make a living selling extension kits to the guys riding these. In fact, when time allows, I may look into the same thing myself. As far as 484 hp, out of 1.3 liters, that's amazing, even for a few seconds at a time. The forces at work inside an engine like that defy the laws of physics, and send chills up my spine! To put your 1.3 liters defined as slightly over 80 cubic inches into perspective, a Harley engine (I work mostly on the shovelheads 1966-1984) is 80 cubic inches, and puts out 40-50 horsepower at the rear wheel in stock trim. I have had customers walk away thinking I'm a miracle worker because I'm setting them up to pull 90 horsepower and 90 ft/lb torque (rear wheel) by upping the displacement to 93 cubic inches, porting, upping compression, It's a major undertaking to say the least, and you're pulling almost 5-1/2 Times that! Great job. If you get time, I'd like to see some more detailed pics of the frame. and any welding/fabrication that you may have done to it. Thanks!

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I rode the bike on the street up until June of last year. It still could be setup for the street, but I have made the decision that there really is no place for this on the street. The only thing technically not street legal is the exhaust (no muffler, only the turbo), but that said, there are 1000's of harleys with straight pipes as well.

I am very familiar with harleys as well and the shop owner where I tune the bike has a bike setup similar to mine, normally aspirated, and tune at a bit over 200 HP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveO

I wondered about the street tire requirement. I thought maybe it was an equalizer that would force competitors to concentrate on engine wizardry, rather than using every little technique (like slick tires) to squeeze every last fractional mph out of the bike, or maybe a reality check to be able to say 'yes you really could ride this bike home'. Probably way off base, but there does seem to be a lot of engine wizardry in play!

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Thre actually used to be a requirement to go on a 10 miles street ride that required the bikes to be shut off and re-started within 30 seconds after shut-down. That ahs been removed due to the logistics, etc.

The bikes really aren't all that streetable anymore. The intent of the class is to kind of be the "spirit" of a streetbike (street tires, working lights, "looking" like a streetbike, wheelbase adn ground clearance limits, etc)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sportbike

Thre actually used to be a requirement to go on a 10 miles street ride that required the bikes to be shut off and re-started within 30 seconds after shut-down. That ahs been removed due to the logistics, etc.

The bikes really aren't all that streetable anymore. The intent of the class is to kind of be the "spirit" of a streetbike (street tires, working lights, "looking" like a streetbike, wheelbase adn ground clearance limits, etc)

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Sounds kinda similar to the evolution of NASCAR. I remember back in the early '70s when the cars being raced were actually the factory body shell, stripped down and rebuilt with racing components. (remember the '69 Dodge Daytona and '70 Plymouth Superbird?) I don't know exactly what the final year of the use of an actual stock body was, but nowadays, I don't think there's one single stock component on these "stock" cars. It would be really cool if they would go back and create a class with the same popularity and notoriety as the "big" races, only using cars that us mortals could actually buy. That's what I think is coolest about your setup. Even though you have now evolved to the point that street use isn't practical, with the most minor adjustments, you could be on the road with that beast, scarin' the heck out of little old ladies!:D:D

Are they big brass ones and do they clank when you walk 500 hp two wheels and no wheelie bar I am to old and brittle for that but in my youth maybe. 1981 my gs1100ex was the badest thing from the factory now a stock 650 makes it a slug how far technolgy has come. cool pics

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hooda

Sounds kinda similar to the evolution of NASCAR. I remember back in the early '70s when the cars being raced were actually the factory body shell, stripped down and rebuilt with racing components. (remember the '69 Dodge Daytona and '70 Plymouth Superbird?) I don't know exactly what the final year of the use of an actual stock body was, but nowadays, I don't think there's one single stock component on these "stock" cars. It would be really cool if they would go back and create a class with the same popularity and notoriety as the "big" races, only using cars that us mortals could actually buy. That's what I think is coolest about your setup. Even though you have now evolved to the point that street use isn't practical, with the most minor adjustments, you could be on the road with that beast, scarin' the heck out of little old ladies!:D:D

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Yeah,we aren't quite that far yet, still have to use stock frames and the lights actually have to work.

The rules for the class are here if anyone is interested:
http://www.mirockracing.com/rules/20..._prostreet.pdf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 67cudafb

Are they big brass ones and do they clank when you walk 500 hp two wheels and no wheelie bar I am to old and brittle for that but in my youth maybe. 1981 my gs1100ex was the badest thing from the factory now a stock 650 makes it a slug how far technolgy has come. cool pics

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Ha...I got nothing on some of the other guys in the class. There are some crazy MoFo;s that run this class.

Well, I finally made it into the 7's with the bike. this was on the 3rd pass this year. I didn't really have all that much power in it either. After this pass, I couldn't get the front half to come around despite many tries. I added some more power anyway and added 5mph in the 1/8th and 10 more up top.

This made the weekend my best ET (7.99), 1/8th mph(147), and 1/4mph (186)

I hope to to go our local track and work on the front half a bit to get the ET's deeper into the 7's next time I go to a bigger track. (local track doesn't have a great deal of shutdown)

John


http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...0611021924.jpg

Two shots form the MIROCK Summer Showdown at Maryland International Raceway :cool:


Attachment 7122Attachment 7123

Not sure I would do that speed with 4 wheels. Great shots.

Another MIROCK Superbike Series Race in the books.

I'm still not really competitive with the rest of the field, but I race for my own goals rather than to compete with the other guys.

Improved my best personal ET to 7.788. Best 1/8th speed to 150.90mph, and best 1/4mile trap speed to 194.27mph. This is almost an 8 mph improvement over my previous best speed! I was a bit surprised at that much of a gain.

All this with a non charge cooled turbo application on a 1300cc engine (just about 80 cubic inches). Took about 36psi boost to do it :O:cool: